That’s the word from Ricky Skerritt, chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization and minister of tourism of St. Kitts & Nevis. Skerritt made observation as he declared opened the CTO’s 13th annual Sustainable Tourism Conference, (STC 13) at the Guyana Conference Center at Lillendaal, Guyana on April 15th.
The conference, that is being hosted by the Guyana government and is being presented under the theme “Keeping the Right Balance: Sustaining Our Resources,” aims to bring new insight into advancements in evolving special interest tourism niches such as adventure tourism.
The Guyana government chose to protect virtually its entire 40 million acres of rain forest, meaning that approximately 80 per cent of the natural land asset of Guyana is being preserved through deliberate and responsible decision-making by its government.
Acting Guyana Tourism Minister, Irfaan Ali, insisted his country is focused on improving the tourism sector and has expanded funding in its annual budget to focus on new efforts that help make the country an internationally recognizable destination for sustainable tourism.
The opening ceremony included two interpretative dances presented by the Guyana Dance Company that captured the spirit of the environment and how if not preserved the spirit of the forest and the environment, including its plants, animals and flora will die.
The event was emceed by broadcaster, Rovin Deodat and attendees included Guyana ministers of government, Leslie Ramsammy and Ashnee Singh as well as Guyana communications expert, Kit Nascimento and former Guyana tourism minister, Maniram Prashad and former director of tourism, Donald Sinclair.
The formal conference opens Monday morning with a video address from former President of Guyana and UN Champion of the Environment, Bharrat Jagdeo and a keynote address from the current acting President, Sam Hinds.
